Weekend Gardener
The Dianthus Garden Circle recently bestowed the Garden of the Month Award on the Oakbrook community home of Jean and Al Tetta. The Tettas' love of gardening and natural plantings and beds have transformed the yard of their Black Oak Court home into a showplace in just the year and a half they have lived there.

Plant Q&A
Questions and answers about plants by a professional horticulturist

Landscape plants can offer you many uses
So often, in this area, we see plants like juniper, ligustrum, pittosporum and liriope in the majority of local landscapes. While these plants can be low maintenance and drought tolerant, they do little to add color and

The candidates and the kids
Eleven of the local candidates for office took time out of their busy campaign schedules to participate in the recent "Meet the Candidates" program at Beacon of Hope Christian School. The children were all dressed in red, white and blue, and wore hats with American flags, which they made in class. They also made posters to help decorate the sanctuary.

It's a great life
I don't know about you, but I am sooooo glad this silly election is over.

Nothing's as tasty as a good old sweet potato
Sweet potatoes are a high prized and nutritious vegetable. They are grown in Louisiana, North Carolina and other southern and eastern states from New Jersey to Texas, and also in Cal

Tanaka shocks field, takes lead in Spain
SOTOGRANDE, Spain -- Feeling dwarfed by a world-class field, Hidemichi Tanaka said his goal this week in the American Express Championship was to get Tiger Woods' autograph. He might leave with something much more valuable.

Golf Roundup
SOTOGRANDE, Spain -- The cork trees seemed to close in on Nick Price as his lead began to shrink. Even with Tiger Woods quietly climbing into contention, Price had other worries in the American Express Championship.

Woods agrees to $100,000 fine
Tiger Woods reportedly has agreed to pay a $100,000 fine for participating in a nonunion television commercial shot during the lengthy actors' strike against national advertisers.

USS Cole, Vietnam, election cited by president on Veteran's Day
WASHINGTON -- On a Veteran's Day of remembrance spanning generations, President Clinton saluted the crew members of the USS Cole for heroism and sacrifice, and broke ground for a national memorial honoring Americans for their service at home and abroad during World War II.

UFW, artists sue Internet media giant over mural images
SAN FRANCISCO -- Tourists taking a walking tour on Saturday couldn't miss the subject of a legal dispute between the United Farm Workers and a major dealer in art reproductions -- murals covering the sides of buildings in the city's Mission District.

Toddler with reattached arms ready to go home
ROBBINSDALE, Minn. -- Three-year-old Parker Sebens lifted his bandaged, reattached arms like a champ and growled like a professional wrestler nearly two months after the limbs were severed in a farming accident.

FBI arrests alleged leaders of San Diego racist group
SAN DIEGO -- The 25-year-old publisher of a racist Internet newsletter was arrested for vandalism and threats against a Jewish congressman, a Hispanic mayor and others in what federal authorities called a campaign of intimidation.

Bernard Shaw to leave CNN next year
NEW YORK -- Bernard Shaw, chief anchorman for most major stories during CNN's 20-year history, told The Associated Press on Friday he will leave the network early next year to write books and spend more time with his family.

Non-voters have their reasons
A presidential election teetering on the fulcrum of a few hundred Floridians would seem to offer the sternest lesson to date on the value of a single vote.

Clinton finally getting to visit scene of war that he opposed
WASHINGTON -- During the Vietnam War, a youthful Bill Clinton denounced the draft and avoided military service. Now, in the waning days of his presidency, he will become the first U.S. president to visit communist Vietnam since the end of a war that divided America.

Overweight toddler returned to family
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A 3-year-old girl taken into state custody more than two months ago because she weighed 120 pounds smiled broadly as she returned home with her mother Friday afternoon.

'Mister Rogers' to tape final season of shows
PITTSBURGH -- It's a sad day in the neighborhood. Longtime children's TV host Fred Rogers plans to introduce his last new neighbor next year, his production company announced Saturday.

Experts: Winner will need to reach across party lines
WASHINGTON -- It may be days, even weeks, before the presidential election standoff is resolved but the political cliff-hanger is already changing the calculus of likely presidential appointments and legislative agendas.

Man arrested for aggravated battery
Michael Andrew Tucker, 40, Ponte Vedra, was arrested after he allegedly beat a 40-year-old woman with a telephone and tried to strangle her with the cord, reports said.

Remember story contest;
Budding writers of all ages are invited to compete this year in The Record"s annual original holiday story contest.

Clean sweep in Moultrie Oaks
The folks in Moultrie Oaks adult community made a clean sweep of things when, armed with rakes, shovels, ladders, cleaning supplies and trimmers, an army of volunteers visited homes where residents needed assistance with household chores.

STONE PROMOTED
BOB S. STONE, formerly the state public affairs officer assigned to the Florida National Guard"s St. Francis Barracks, has been promoted in the Army to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Stone now works in the Pentagon as the deputy dire

Presidential vote now a court case
Republicans sent the 2000 presidential race into the federal courts Saturday at the same time election officials in one of Florida's 67 counties completed a laborious hand recount sought by Vice President Al Gore. ''We're all in limbo,'' said George W. Bush at the end of a week of unprecedented political turmoil.

High gas prices leads FHP to trim back costs
Because of rising gas prices, Florida Highway Patrol divisions throughout the state have been asked to cut down on fuel consumption -- a move that will reduce routine patrols statewide.

GOOD MORNING
I have a greater appreciation for what poll workers and canvassers have to go through. Tuesday night was my 15 mintues of fame. Circuit Judge Robert Mathis recruited me to help out briefly with election duties. Seems the elections office needed another Democrat so the marking of some duplicate ballots could be completed. Mathis said ''you're a Democrat in a sea of Republicans and we need a Democrat.'' Well, I didn't jump in and say yes. The role of reporter is as an observer. This role was participant. After getting the OK from Record Managing Editor Diane Rodgers, I crossed the line from the public conference room to the official counting room. The counting room is glass walled and the hub of activity on election night like no other time. No one but the official canvassers are allowed in the room. It also is kept locked while the process is going on. The absentee ballots were checked as they were opened in the county room. My job, brief as it was, was to mark duplicate ballots so they could be counted.I was teamed up with County Judge Charles Tinlin. He called out the votes from the original ballot and then I connected the arrows on the duplicate. The ballots we checked, and the others in the room checked by other canvassers including County Commissioner John Reardon, were the ones where the arrows didn't get connected to indicate an official vote. Until I saw these ballots up close and firsthand, I thought our voting procedure was the easiest to understand. All you have to do is connect the middle part of the arrow to the rest of the arrow next to the candidate of your choice. Was I wrong. I duplicated ballots where a voter put "X's" next to the preferred candidate. Another ballot had the choice candidates marked with a checkmarks. A third voter got close by drawing a thin line from the name of the voter over to the edge of the particular race column. The process of checking and making new ballots requires that each original ballot be saved and the new ballot be marked with the word ''duplicate'' at the bottom of the ballot. In addition, while one person marks it, the person reading out the original also goes back and checks the original against the duplicate. In checking ballots, it was also disheartening to see that people don't vote in every race. Either they just don't know about the race or only set out to vote for a certain candidate in a certain race. Supervisor of Elections Penny Halyburton said some ballots had only the presidential race marked. She said that is not unusual. Some people only want to vote every four years and only for president, she said. The brief time I spent on the other side of the wall was fully documented. I had to sign two documents in Halyburton's presence to verify that I did what I did. The experience gave me a good view of what our elections office goes through to ensure that everyone who votes gets counted or, if it can't be counted, that there is documentation as to why it can't. Registering to vote is most important. The process is only as good as its weakest link. Marking the ballot right completes the voting process.

Father Felix Varela to be honored as Great Floridian
Nineteenth century Cuban patriot-priest Felix Varela will have a special courtyard dedicated in his honor by the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine. The Varela Courtyard will be dedicated Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. in the east courtyard of the Cathedral Basilica.

City Commission agenda
Here are some of the issues expected to be considered by the St. Augustine Commission at 4 p.m. on Monday at the first floor city commission chambers at 75 King St. Public hearings start at 5 p.m. Call 825-1005 for more information.

Remembering our veterans
Lillian Fulghum of St. Augustine lost an uncle in World War II, her fiance was killed in a submarine while fighting the Japanese in the Pacific, and her late husband Milton fought the Germans in Europe.

Maj. Gen. speaks today
The first woman in the Army National Guard promoted to the rank of major general will be in St. Augustine today as guest speaker for the annual Veterans Day services at the St. Augustine National Cemetery.

GOP poised to demand recounts
Republican Party leaders are gearing up to demand recounts in at least four states in the event Texas Gov. George W. Bush loses his tenuous hold on the 25 Florida electoral votes that he needs to capture the presidency.

'Gifted' bomber arraigned
At arraignments Thursday, two men pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges. An 83-year-old woman got three years of probation for intending to sell crack cocaine. And a 15-year-old gifted student faced charges for planting a homemade bomb on a front porch.

Horse and carriage struck in hit-and-run
A Carmel, Ind., couple was injured when a man's van ran into a horse-drawn carriage on Avenida Menendez Thursday night, causing them to be ejected, along with the carriage driver, according to St. Augustine police.

Mary Jane Carman
Funeral services for Mary Jane (Jean) Carman, 85, St. Augustine, who died Nov. 9, 2000, at her home, will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Craig Funeral Home chapel. Burial will be at a later date in Vine Grove Cemetery.

Marion Arthur
Memorial services for Marion Carragher Arthur, 90, Elk Park, N.C., a former St. Augustine resident, who died Oct. 26, 2000, at the home of her son, Tom Arthur, will be held at 10 a.m. today at the Cathedral Blessed Sacrament chapel, with the Rev. Father Terrance Morgan, pastor, officiating.

Old Soldiers
The beach is almost frosty this morning. For the first time in many months I feel chilled as I sta

HRT products should be labeled
Does a woman whose doctor recommends hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have the right to know the origin of those hormones? I believe she does, yet few women are informed that Premarin is made from the urine of pregnant horses and that there are numerous alternative HRT pharmaceuticals.

Electoral College makes sense
Until this week, many Americans might have thought that the Electoral College is where politicians get their diplomas. In truth, under the U.S. Constitution, it is how our presidents are elected. It is a brilliantly conceived system, one that has served our country well for more than two centuries, but it is certain to come under heavy fire in the coming weeks if, as seemed likely at this writing, it turns out that Al Gore narrowly won the popular vote, but George Bush the presidency. (The last man who lost the popular vote and won the White House was Benjamin Harrison, in 1888.)

Lewis-Tua: the long and short of boxing
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- From his penthouse suite, Lennox Lewis can look past this sprawling gambling capital and see the desert. In his mind's eye, he can see past David Tua to a fight against Mike Tyson.

Menendez swimmers make state meet
Four swimmers from Pedro Menendez High School earned berths in the Class 1A state finals next weekend with their performances in Saturday's District 2 meet.

NHL Roundup
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Pittsburgh's Alexsey Morozov scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period, and New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur was knocked out of the game on the play as the Penguins beat the Devils 4-2 on Friday night.

Flagler basketball team wins exhibition
The Flagler College men's basketball team defeated American Eagles 106-82 on Friday in an exhibition game. Jon Radford led the Saints with 18 points. John Randolph added 14 points.

Park edges out Rudd for Pennzoil 400 pole
HOMESTEAD -- Even though Dale Earnhardt's protege is on the pole, the seven-time Winston Cup champion seemed to lose ground in his quest for a record eighth NASCAR title.

NBA Roundup
TORONTO -- Vince Carter scored 32 points and five other Raptors scored in double figures as Toronto handed the Cleveland Cavaliers their first loss of the season, a 115-88 rout Friday night.

NFL Notes
Bobby Ross' resignation seemed a surprise at first. Despite two straight losses, the Lions were 5-4 and certainly in playoff contention.

Top 25 Roundup
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- While Matt Doherty lived up to his promise as an emotional leader, No. 6 North Carolina didn't necessarily live up to its high preseason ranking against Winthrop.

Cranes blaze new route to save endangered cousins
CRYSTAL RIVER (AP) -- A flock of sandhill cranes, following a light plane piloted by a man in a crane costume, finished a monthlong 1,250-mile flight to Florida on Saturday in an experiment intended to blaze a trail for a gangly cousin -- the endangered whooping crane.

St. Pete police dept. bans holiday displays
ST. PETERSBURG -- The police department has banned holiday decorations and celebrations this year after a sergeant filed a religious discrimination complaint over Christian displays.

Slowly, thousands of ballots recounted
WEST PALM BEACH -- Election officials recounted hundreds of thousands of ballots under tight security Saturday and argued over an electoral riddle: When is a vote not a vote?

Mega Money winner
TALLAHASSEE (AP) - One single first-prize winner of the "Mega Money" game, who correctly selected all four numbers, plus the MegaBall number, will collect a jackpot of $174,376.30 each, the Florida Lottery said Saturday.

U.S. warns high costs could kill Kyoto greenhouse treaty
WASHINGTON -- Preparing for critical and probably contentious global warming talks, the Clinton administration is warning that the world treaty on climate change it agreed to three years ago may fall apart if the costs of reducing so-called ''greenhouse'' gases are not contained.

In Cambodia, most attacks are woman- on-woman
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) -- In Cambodia, awash in weapons after decades of war, there are plenty of ways to take revenge. But for those who throw acid instead of grenades, the aim is not to kill but to strip a woman of her beauty.

As Barak heads to U.S., bloodshed continues
JERUSALEM -- With Israel's prime minister heading to Washington for talks aimed at curbing Mideast violence, bloodshed persisted in the Gaza Strip and West Bank on Saturday, leaving six Palestinians and one Israeli soldier dead.

Attack exposes police brutality, racism in new South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- A videotape showing white police officers setting dogs on three black men, beating them and shouting racial slurs has outraged a nation ashamed of its apartheid past and sharpened debate on the pace of change.

Japan warns against new whaling sanctions
TOKYO -- Tough U.S. sanctions over Japan's whaling program would stress relations between the countries, but Tokyo remains open to dialogue on the issue, officials said Friday.

About 170 people dead in Austrian cable car fire
KAPRUN, Austria -- A cable car crammed to capacity with skiers and snowboarders caught fire Saturday while being pulled through an Alpine tunnel, trapping the passengers deep inside a mountain and killing about 170 people -- many of them children and teen-agers.

Bosnian election seen as showdown with nationalists
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina -- Bosnians voted Saturday in nationwide elections to determine whether this war-ravaged country follows its Balkan neighbors and rejects ethnic parties that led them into war.

Suspects planned to attack U.S. Army camp and officers
KUWAIT -- Authorities have recovered explosives that three Kuwaitis and a North African had planned to use in attacks on a U.S. Army camp and on the homes and cars of Western military personnel, an Interior Ministry official said Saturday.

Police warn theater company president over banned play
SINGAPORE -- The president of a theater company who was arrested after trying to rehearse a banned play about marital violence and rape in Singapore's Indian Muslim community was warned by police Friday not to repeat her offense.